VIMS grad student takes part in statewide research forum
W&M Grad Students VIMS grad student Andrew Wozniak (C) participated with five other William & Mary graduate students in the fourth annual Graduate Student Research Forum at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. (From L to R) Steven Gianvecchio, Kevin Kosanovich, Wozniak, Kristi Lee Wyatt, Michael Bagge-Hansen, and Stephen Coleman. Photo by Carla Schneider.
Organic Carbon Lab VIMS graduate student Andrew Wozniak measures organic carbon in the lab.
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The Virginia Council of Graduate Schools hosted the event, which was attended by members of the General Assembly, their staffs, industry representatives, school administrators and the general public.
In his letter endorsing the forum, Governor Timothy Kaine noted, “The Commonwealth relies heavily on the work and scholarship of our graduate students.”
Much of William & Mary’s graduate research aligns with the priorities of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, demonstrating the critical link between university research, the economic development of the Commonwealth, and the well-being of its citizens.
Wozniak, who is pursuing a Ph.D. degree at VIMS with faculty advisors Jim Bauer and Rebecca Dickhut, presented a poster describing his study of the role that aerosols play as a source of organic carbon to the York River watershed.
Wozniak’s focus on carbon reflects its key role as the currency of energy exchange in marine food webs, and the on-going effort to better understand the links between air, land, and water in the global carbon cycle. His research shows that up to half of the organic carbon deposited by airborne particles into the York River watershed comes from the burning of fossil fuels.
Wozniak was joined at the forum by five other William and Mary graduate students, who presented on topics as diverse as cathodes for next-generation microelectronic applications (Michael Bagge-Hansen, Applied Science); neutrino physics (Stephen Coleman, Physics); detection of bots in online chat services (Steven Gianvecchio, Computer Science); the emergence of rap and hip-hop in popular culture (Kevin Kosanovich, American Studies); and technology-assisted distance counseling (Kristi Lee Wyatt, Education).
“William & Mary graduate students are passionate about their research and the opportunity to share the excitement of discovery with undergraduate students, fellow graduate students, and the public,” said Laurie Sanderson, William & Mary’s Dean of Graduate Studies and Research in Arts & Sciences.
Virginia’s Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra has commented in the past that, “Investment in graduate education and the research enterprise is an investment in human capital, which promotes economic development and impacts the quality of life of all Virginians.”
More information about the research forum and the Virginia Council of Graduate Schools can be found at www.vacgs.net <http://www.vacgs.net/> <http://www.vacgs.net < http://www.vacgs.net <http://www.vacgs.net/> > >.